WATCH: Man chases after Nashville porch pirate caught in the act

by AJ Abell

FOX 17 News

A porch pirate was caught on camera in West Nashville on Wednesday morning. Police say this is happening way too often, but this time, the victim decided to take matters into his own hands and go after the woman.

Michael and his wife moved to a home just off Charlotte Pike only eight months ago.

“It's been great, until today," Ruffino said. "A 40's, 50's, blonde, white woman, walks up onto our porch and steals the two lanterns that are sitting on our stairs."

He says the lanterns were worth about $50 each, and his wife had just put them out last night.

Ruffino said he has a Nest security system. So when he saw what was happening, he jumped up and ran after the woman.

He said when you see somebody stealing from your front porch, your initial instinct is to go and confront that person and try to retrieve your belongings.

“And that's what I did. She looked at me like a deer in headlights, I mean super scared,” he said.

The incident happened at around 10:30 Wednesday morning.

“Surprisingly nonchalant for broad daylight for a grown woman to come out here and steal those,” Ruffino commented.

He says he now feels vulnerable, and believes the house was targeted because the woman drove by and then returned.

He reported it to Metro Police, who told him he needs to be willing to file charges should they ever catch the thief.

If authorities do find the woman, a spokesperson with the department said she will likely be charged with a misdemeanor.